After seven years of marriage, Hollywood power couple Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony called it quits a month and a half ago. And while Lopez recently opened up about their pending divorce, Anthony has remained silent on the issue. But as rumors fly about the demise of their marriage, Anthony has now broken his silence, revealing to ABC News what really caused their split.
Since announcing their separation, fans have both quietly and publicly wondered about what drama may have occurred between Lopez and Anthony and who caused the split. But as Anthony explains to “Nightline” host John Quinones, there were no terrible events between them, their marriage just no longer “worked.”
“It’s a decision that we made jointly. And that’s how I’ll answer that,” said Anthony. “”People are trying to peg it on things because it was so shocking. It was like, it must have been something … It wasn’t something sensationalistic.”
Some of those “sensationalistic” things include rumors of affairs between Anthony and other women, none more popular than the rumor that Anthony struck up an affair with fellow “HawthoRNe” co-star Jada Pinkett-Smith, wife of Will Smith. However, Anthony vehemently denies the rumors, saying he was faithful to Lopez.
“It was a flight attendant, it was the pilot — I heard it was this guy sitting next to me in a rehab in Houston. I’ve heard it all,” said Anthony. “When something like that happens, it’s laughable. We were laughing, like, ‘wow.’ We’ve been friends for years. Jada, Jennifer, me and him, for years. What bothers me is the effect it has on family, the effect it has on Will and Jada’s circle and their children and their relatives and their loved ones.”
During the interview, Anthony also denied rumors that he was jealous of Lopez’s career and strained their marriage with his envy.
“I think anybody will tell you how I supported her, from day one. I’m really, really happy for her. … We’re going to be in each other’s lives for many, many, many years, and I’m glad that our friendship is that strong. … What would make it difficult is if we didn’t get along,” he said.
Indeed, Lopez and Anthony have respectfully maintained their unity in the public eye, even declaring that they will continue to work together on their upcoming Latin talent show, “Q’Viva! The Chosen.” And according to Anthony, he and Lopez will remain united in raising their 3-year-old twins, Max and Emme.
“I’m always going to be Daddy … they’re used to me traveling and Jennifer traveling and we speak all the time, and try to maintain that presence,” said Anthony.
Though Anthony and Lopez will soon close the final chapter on their once storybook marriage, he explains that he will always love the soon-to-be former Mrs. Anthony.
“I’ll always love Jennifer. Yes. I’ll always love Jennifer. She knows that,” said Anthony. “Jennifer’s a wonderful, wonderful woman, a wonderful mother, a wonderful friend, you know. We understand this to be a long story. This is not a short story. ” –nicholas robinson
